Research Rang e Services 2010 - NASA Goddard Space Flight ...
Research Rang e Services 2010 - NASA Goddard Space Flight ...
Research Rang e Services 2010 - NASA Goddard Space Flight ...
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<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong><br />
<strong>2010</strong><br />
Annual Report<br />
National Aeronautics and <strong>Space</strong> Administration<br />
<strong>Goddard</strong> <strong>Space</strong> <strong>Flight</strong> Center<br />
Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility
This <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> Annual Report is<br />
dedicated to Dr. John Campbell who retired as the<br />
sixth director of <strong>NASA</strong> Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility Dec.<br />
31, 2009. Taking the helm in January 2002 leading<br />
Wallops and the <strong>Goddard</strong> <strong>Space</strong> <strong>Flight</strong> Center’s Sub-<br />
Orbital and Special Orbital Directorate, Dr. Campbell<br />
led the facility through a period of unprecedented<br />
growth and recognition of its capabilities. In his eight<br />
years at Wallops, Dr. Campbell led the growth of the<br />
testing of unmanned vehicle systems; an upgrade of<br />
the facilities infrastructure; a resurgence of its sub-orbital<br />
sounding rocket and scientific balloon programs;<br />
a return of Wallops as the agency’s premiere site for<br />
sub-orbital technology development and testing; a<br />
resurgence in orbital missions from the Wallops<br />
Launch <strong>Rang</strong>e; and the development of the Wallops<br />
<strong>Research</strong> Park.<br />
Dr. Campbell began his career with <strong>NASA</strong> in 1987 at<br />
the <strong>Goddard</strong> <strong>Space</strong> <strong>Flight</strong> Center, Greenbelt, MD, as<br />
a systems engineering manager. During his career at<br />
<strong>Goddard</strong> he held several leadership positions including<br />
key roles in the first three servicing missions for<br />
the Hubble <strong>Space</strong> Telescope.
Table of Contents<br />
Executive Summary<br />
Introduction<br />
Program Management<br />
Operational Missions and Accomplishments<br />
<strong>NASA</strong> Science Mission Directorate<br />
<strong>NASA</strong> Exploration Systems Mission Directorate<br />
<strong>NASA</strong> Aeronautics <strong>Research</strong> Mission Directorate<br />
<strong>NASA</strong> <strong>Space</strong> Operations Mission Directorate<br />
Civil Agencies<br />
Education and Public Outreach<br />
Spotlight<br />
Looking Ahead<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report
Wallops <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong><br />
…Cornerstone of Excellence for <strong>Services</strong><br />
Critical to the Success of <strong>Rang</strong>e Operations<br />
Wallops Island, Virginia, is where many <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> assets are located.<br />
2<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
3
Executive Summary<br />
4<br />
Personal commitment to excellence upholds a rich tradition at <strong>NASA</strong>’s Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility<br />
(WFF) that started in 1945 with the firing of the first rocket from the Virginia shoreline.<br />
Whether it’s the skies above WFF or locations around the globe to include Alaska, Norway,<br />
and many other stops, the <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) team of professionals routinely<br />
lights up the sky with magnificent launches of a vast array of spacecraft. This past year, RRS<br />
Program personnel worked countless hours to ensure mission success for scores of operations<br />
and to build a <strong>Rang</strong>e infrastructure capable of launching a new class of rocket that will<br />
take critical supplies to the International <strong>Space</strong> Station.<br />
It is important to point out that while WFF is involved in creating future space range architectures<br />
for the nation, it is currently a first rate, state-of-the-art facility known for its adaptability,<br />
flexibility and responsiveness to meet a variety of customer launch requirements and varied<br />
schedules. Our moniker is “We’ll Get You There” to “Enable Worldwide <strong>Research</strong>” — whether<br />
the platform is an unmanned aerial vehicle, sounding rocket, expendable vehicle, or other type<br />
of vehicle. For any type of launch, RRS provides exceptional support systems and services to<br />
include: radar and optical tracking, telemetry, command, meteorological data, post-launch data<br />
processing, program management, and a host of other services to enable scientific research.<br />
Defining how the <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e works is simple. A lot of interrelated, highly complex activities<br />
have to happen in a specific order and in a short period of time. Fortunately, due to the<br />
extraordinary experience, knowledge and dedication of our entire launch team, we are ready<br />
today and will continue to be ready, willing and able to rapidly and positively respond to changing<br />
customer requirements or deviations in launch schedule with a “can do” attitude and a total<br />
commitment to safety and mission success.<br />
Demonstrating remarkable skills, unsurpassed professionalism, and customer friendly flexibility,<br />
the <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e’s team of civil servants, contract employees and interns provide<br />
an atmosphere where our customers can get responsive, low-cost access to space whether<br />
it’s within the earth’s atmosphere or beyond. The <strong>Rang</strong>e’s ability to maximize asset utilization<br />
while accommodating diverse customer launch requirements demonstrates exemplary resiliency<br />
and unique skills mimicked by few and envied by many.<br />
In summary, RRS continues to enable worldwide research through our premiere <strong>Rang</strong>e engineering<br />
and operations services team and looks forward to continuing our world-class support<br />
to all of our customers in 2011.<br />
Thomas J. “Jay” Pittman<br />
<strong>Goddard</strong> <strong>Space</strong> <strong>Flight</strong> Center<br />
Commander, Wallops <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e Instrumentation Radar 706 is a precision tracking radar which provides time, space and<br />
position information during rocket launches and other missions at Wallops <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e.<br />
5
A New Year with a New Partner<br />
6<br />
This year, a monumental change took place within the<br />
R C<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) program. For more<br />
than 15 years, services that supported RRS requirements<br />
were provided under a large contract primarily focused on<br />
<strong>NASA</strong>’s <strong>Space</strong> Network and Ground Network functions.<br />
Due to the large size of the past contract, it was difficult<br />
for RRS to focus on range improvements and maintain<br />
responsiveness to its customers. Therefore, in 2009, with<br />
the approval of the RRS Program’s Heliophysics Division<br />
leadership, the <strong>Rang</strong>e Operations Contract (ROC) procurement<br />
process started. The process involved meetings at <strong>NASA</strong> Headquarters to develop a procurement<br />
strategy and at <strong>Goddard</strong> <strong>Space</strong> <strong>Flight</strong> Center for legal and acquisition strategy meetings. The full<br />
and open competition solicitation was released in early 2009 and in mid-2009 nine acceptable proposals<br />
were received.<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e Operations Contract<br />
A team of operations, engineering, procurement, and management experts made up the Source<br />
Evaluation Board (SEB). After an intense period of evaluating more than 15,000 pages of material<br />
covering nine offeror’s technical approach, cost and past performance, the SEB was ready to present<br />
their findings to the ROC Source Selection Official at <strong>Goddard</strong> <strong>Space</strong> <strong>Flight</strong> Center in Maryland.<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
On June 22, <strong>2010</strong>, the <strong>Rang</strong>e Operations Contract was awarded to LJT and Associates, Inc., a small<br />
business headquartered in Columbia, Maryland. A 60-day phase-in period started June 27, <strong>2010</strong>, for<br />
the newly-selected ROC contractor in conjunction with the RRS team. During this period, LJT<br />
personnel worked side-by-side with the RRS team to start implementation of new business and management<br />
processes, hire a staff of more than 100 uniquely qualified employees, and prepare themselves<br />
for contract start on August 27, <strong>2010</strong>.<br />
Since that date, the RRS/ROC team has performed flawlessly in meeting the demands of the RRS<br />
Program’s challenging mission and is on the precipice of perhaps the most challenging 12 months<br />
of range services requirements ever experienced at Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility. In this short time period,<br />
ROC personnel will deploy to locations such as Antarctica, Alaska, and Norway to support existing<br />
RRS Program customer requirements. While they are supporting this worldwide need, the Wallops<br />
Launch <strong>Rang</strong>e will transform itself into the nation’s newest medium-class expendable launch vehicle<br />
spaceport. In addition, they will conduct numerous tests as a precursor to the early 2012 launch of<br />
Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Taurus II launch vehicle destined to perform resupply missions to the<br />
International <strong>Space</strong> Station after the <strong>Space</strong> Shuttle is retired.<br />
Looking back at the accomplishments of 2009 and <strong>2010</strong>, it is evident the team assembled to tackle<br />
the most challenging twelve months in Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility history is up to the challenge. We are<br />
well positioned to tackle the challenges that will follow in 2011 and beyond.<br />
Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility’s fully operational airport contains<br />
two 8,000-foot runways, an air traffic control tower and is<br />
also the location of the <strong>Rang</strong>e Control Center.<br />
7
Introduction<br />
8<br />
This year, <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) professionals continued their long-standing tradition<br />
of delivering consistently superior support. RRS supports a variety of customers ranging<br />
from <strong>NASA</strong>’s mission directorates, to other United States Government agencies, colleges and<br />
universities, civilian corporations and the worldwide scientific community by providing tracking,<br />
telemetry, meteorological, optical, command and control and range operations services for<br />
Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility (WFF), Poker Flat <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e near Fairbanks, Alaska, and other<br />
remote locations around the globe. The RRS program’s dedicated, experienced, and highly<br />
skilled engineers and technicians assured error free, safe <strong>Rang</strong>e operations for real-time<br />
capture and display of mission-specific flight, payload and science data for a myriad of flight<br />
vehicles including orbital and sub-orbital rockets, manned and unmanned aircraft, satellites,<br />
the <strong>Space</strong> Shuttle and research balloons.<br />
Systems and capabilities under the auspices of the RRS Program include:<br />
• A fully equipped, state-of-the-art <strong>Rang</strong>e Control Center with a full compliment of<br />
command and control equipment as well as an extensive bank of monitors to provide<br />
real-time display of all flight events<br />
• An aeronautical research airport<br />
• Fixed and mobile radar systems for tracking launch vehicles, satellites and aircraft<br />
• Fixed and mobile telemetry systems to collect state-of-health and science<br />
experiment data<br />
• Fixed and mobile optical and television systems<br />
• Ground–based and aerial video and photography, professional archiving and<br />
printing, and post-production services<br />
• Fixed and mobile <strong>Rang</strong>e Safety systems to facilitate and ensure flight safety<br />
• A comprehensive suite of meteorological instrumentation, radars and weather<br />
balloons used in collecting atmospheric measurements to provide real-time weather<br />
forecasts<br />
• Radio Frequency spectrum allocation management and coordination<br />
• Master station time equipment to synchronize <strong>Rang</strong>e activities and data<br />
The RRS program also offers world class sustaining engineering and project management services<br />
to underwrite WFF’s widely recognized status as a flexible, full service, customer friendly<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e. RRS engineers and technicians routinely establish and verify instrumentation metrics,<br />
adapt <strong>Rang</strong>e instrumentation and optics to unique customer requirements, assist in performing<br />
root cause analyses, implement minor to moderate system upgrades, and perform link analysis<br />
calculations to ensure adequate radar, telemetry, and command support for a myriad of challenging<br />
missions. RRS engineers are also involved in <strong>Rang</strong>e technology development to support<br />
advanced mission planning systems and space-based <strong>Rang</strong>e architectures.<br />
This Fiscal Year <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report highlights and spotlights the projects that continued our<br />
long track record of successfully, safely, efficiently, and professionally enabling research worldwide<br />
and of which we, the RRS team, are most proud.<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e Instrumentation Radar 716 is a mobile system often<br />
deployed to Poker Flat <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e near Fairbanks,<br />
Alaska, to support sounding rocket campaigns.<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
A Team<br />
of Teams<br />
Program Management<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e Control<br />
Risk Management<br />
Systems Engineering<br />
Hardware Engineering<br />
Software Engineering<br />
Technology Development<br />
Configuration Management<br />
Financial Management<br />
Radar<br />
Telecommunications<br />
Command and Control<br />
Optical<br />
Meteorological<br />
Logistics<br />
9
Program Management<br />
Sending multi-million dollar space<br />
vehicles screaming into the Earth’s<br />
atmosphere at hypersonic speeds,<br />
conducting data gathering missions<br />
with unmanned aerial vehicles, and<br />
providing world class test support to<br />
other government and civilian agencies<br />
are all core competencies of<br />
Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility (WFF). Each<br />
operation requires a total commitment<br />
to excellence.<br />
Program Management Overview<br />
Directorate: Science Mission Directorate<br />
Division: Heliophysics<br />
Program Executive: Ms. Cheryl Yuhas<br />
Program Manager: Mr. Thomas J. “Jay” Pittman<br />
Lead Center: <strong>Goddard</strong> <strong>Space</strong> <strong>Flight</strong> Center<br />
Performing Facility: Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility<br />
Program Type: <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong><br />
The <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) program has a deep bench of highly experienced <strong>Rang</strong>e<br />
Service Managers at the ready to build, coordinate, and manage cohesive teams to tap the<br />
minds of engineers and involve the expertise of technicians, the know-how of scientists, and<br />
the watchful eye of safety to create a user-friendly environment to facilitate collecting and processing<br />
scientific information to enhance our understanding of the Universe.<br />
At Wallops, effective management and integration of all aspects of mission support are where<br />
the rubber meets the road. In <strong>2010</strong>, RRS <strong>Rang</strong>e Service Managers were responsible for<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e instrumentation support such as radar tracking, telemetry, command, optical, meteorological,<br />
and data processing for <strong>NASA</strong> orbital and sub-orbital programs, and programs for<br />
other government and civilian agencies. <strong>Rang</strong>e Service Managers assured 100% success for<br />
a multitude of programs executed at WFF while simultaneously managing remote campaigns<br />
in Alaska and Norway and downrange tracking/command sites. Highly skilled RRS <strong>Rang</strong>e<br />
Service Managers leave no stone unturned to:<br />
• Ensure total success in meeting our customer’s requirements through risk assessment<br />
and mitigation, comprehensive operator certification, configuration management, pre-mission<br />
testing, proven operating procedures, and post-mission support.<br />
• Assure a “green range” for all missions through effective corrective and preventive maintenance<br />
for all WFF facilities and equipment.<br />
• Creatively use state-of-the-art engineering expertise and technology advancements to<br />
meet new mission requirements, improve <strong>Rang</strong>e safety, reduce operational costs and<br />
replace obsolete equipment.<br />
• Provide expertise and management skills to oversee the technical performance of contract<br />
services including setting mission priorities, ensuring sufficient staffing levels, identifying<br />
and prioritizing engineering upgrades and overseeing efforts between <strong>NASA</strong> engineering<br />
and contractor personnel.<br />
From the initial dreams of a principal investigator through the completion of data analysis, the<br />
RRS project manager is the glue that bonds the talents and efforts of the extended team of<br />
professionals needed to ensure successful completion of every mission. RRS project managers<br />
take a back seat to no one; their vision, technical expertise and management skills are truly<br />
world class.<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> Assets: $231.7 million<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
Telemetry Systems Per Unit Quantity Total ($M)<br />
7.3-Meter Fixed Antenna $1.5 2 $3.0<br />
7-Meter Mobile Antenna $1.5 2 $3.0<br />
Mobile Telemetry Van $1.5 1 $1.5<br />
20-Foot Mobile System $2.0 1 $2.0<br />
Mobile Super Van $2.5 1 $2.5<br />
10-Foot Mobile Antenna $0.5 1 $0.5<br />
8-Foot System $0.4 2 $0.8<br />
8-Foot Mobile Antenna $0.4 1 $0.4<br />
8-Meter Antenna $2.5 2 $5.0<br />
16-Foot System $0.5 1 $0.5<br />
9-Meter Redstone $6.0 1 $6.0<br />
9-Meter System $4.0 1 $4.0<br />
Atmospheric Radars Per Unit Quantity Total<br />
<strong>Space</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e Radar $20.0 1 $20.0<br />
Ultra High Frequency (UHF) $18.0 1 $18.0<br />
S-band Weather (Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere) $5.0 1 $5.0<br />
<strong>NASA</strong> Polarimetric (NPOL) $5.0 1 $5.0<br />
Tracking Radars Per Unit Quantity Total<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e Instrumentation Radar — 778C $6.0 4 $24.0<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e Instrumentation Radar — 716 $7.0 2 $14.0<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e Instrumentation Radar — 706 $70.0 1 $70.0<br />
Surveillance Radars Per Unit Quantity Total<br />
Airport Surveillance Radar $10.0 1 $10.0<br />
Sea Surveillance $1.0 1 $1.0<br />
Pathfinder $0.7 2 $1.4<br />
Active Protective System $2.5 1 $2.5<br />
Command & Support Systems Per Unit Quantity Total<br />
Fixed UHF Command System $4.0 1 $4.0<br />
Mobile Command System $1.4 1 $1.4<br />
Mobile <strong>Rang</strong>e Control System $2.1 1 $2.1<br />
Radio Frequency Communication $3.0 1 $3.0<br />
Timing System $0.8 1 $0.8<br />
Video and Optical Systems $10.0 1 $10.0<br />
Mobile Power Systems $0.3 4 $1.2<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e Control Per Unit Quantity Total<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e Control Center $10.0 1 $10.0<br />
10 11
Operational Missions & Accomplishments<br />
12<br />
The <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) program’s customer base spans all four of <strong>NASA</strong>’s<br />
mission directorates: Science, <strong>Space</strong> Operations, Aeronautics <strong>Research</strong> and Exploration<br />
Systems. The RRS program continues a long tradition of providing world-class support to<br />
<strong>NASA</strong>’s Sounding Rocket, <strong>Space</strong> Shuttle and Unmanned Aircraft Systems programs using<br />
fixed and mobile range assets at Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility (WFF) and remote locations worldwide.<br />
The RRS program also supports DoD and civil agency missions by working with a diverse<br />
group of customers including, but not limited to, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Air Force, the<br />
Missile Defense Agency, the National Weather Service, and the National Oceanic and<br />
Atmospheric Administration.<br />
This year, RRS supported missions spanning a multitude of objectives that included four<br />
Shuttle launches, unmanned aerial vehicle flights, and multiple sounding rocket missions<br />
around the globe. One particular operation showcased the <strong>Rang</strong>e’s flexibility when Gulfstream<br />
Corporation selected WFF to conduct water ingestion testing on their new G650 aircraft.<br />
Data captured using the RRS program’s unique capabilities provided Gulfstream critically<br />
important information necessary to analyze their new aircraft’s ability to land and take<br />
off in wet runway conditions. The successful application of WFF’s capabilities and the RRS<br />
program’s adaptability to a wide variety of data capture challenges to support a customer’s<br />
unique requirements is a prime example of<br />
the resources offered by WFF and the RRS<br />
program to the civilian community.<br />
Since 2009, the RRS program, under the<br />
auspices of the <strong>Rang</strong>e and Mission Management<br />
Office, has been a key member of the<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e Commander’s Council (RCC). The<br />
RCC provides a framework wherein common<br />
needs are identified and common solutions<br />
are sought. The Council is dedicated to serving<br />
the technical and operational needs of<br />
23 U.S. test, training and operational ranges<br />
by ensuring that technical standards are<br />
established and disseminated, joint procurement<br />
opportunities are explored, technical<br />
and equipment exchanges are facilitated, and<br />
advanced concepts and technical innovations<br />
are assessed.<br />
For more information on Wallops <strong>Flight</strong><br />
Facility’s <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong><br />
Program, contact Steve Kremer at<br />
(757) 824-1114 or at<br />
Steven.Kremer@nasa.gov.<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e Missions<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Services</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
Mission Launches Date<br />
Ares I-X Test <strong>Flight</strong> 1 Oct. 28, 2009<br />
STS 129 Shuttle 1 Nov. 16, 2009<br />
Mesquito Sounding Rocket 1 Dec. 16, 2009<br />
STS 130 Shuttle 1 Feb. 8, <strong>2010</strong><br />
TMA Ampoules Sounding Rocket 1 Feb. 9, <strong>2010</strong><br />
CHARM 2 Sounding Rocket 1 Feb. 15, <strong>2010</strong><br />
Terrier MK70-Improved Malemute Sounding Rocket 1 Mar. 27, <strong>2010</strong><br />
STS 131 Shuttle 1 Apr. 5, <strong>2010</strong><br />
STS 132 Shuttle 1 May 14, <strong>2010</strong><br />
RockOn! III Sounding Rocket 1 Jun. 24, <strong>2010</strong><br />
Viking 300 <strong>NASA</strong> UAV Tech <strong>Flight</strong>s 6 Aug. 3 to Sept. 10, <strong>2010</strong><br />
Nikha MOD II Sounding Rocket Test <strong>Flight</strong> 1 Aug. 4, <strong>2010</strong><br />
SubTEC III Sounding Rocket 1 Sept. 21, <strong>2010</strong><br />
Water Ingestion 1 Oct. 2, <strong>2010</strong><br />
The <strong>Rang</strong>e Control Center is the heartbeat of all operations conducted<br />
at the Launch <strong>Rang</strong>e. From this location, <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong><br />
personnel direct all support duties for the operation that includes project<br />
management, surveillance, meteorological, and other support duties.<br />
13
<strong>NASA</strong> Science Mission Directorate<br />
14<br />
<strong>2010</strong> Poker Flat <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e<br />
Sounding Rocket Campaign<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) played a key role in two Science Mission Directorate missions<br />
by deploying <strong>Rang</strong>e systems and personnel to the University of Alaska Geophysical Institute’s<br />
Poker Flat <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e near Fairbanks, Alaska, for launch of the CHARM II and TMA<br />
payloads in February <strong>2010</strong>. RRS personnel deployed in advance to prepare for the mission<br />
and were faced with the cold Alaska winter with temperatures reaching -50° F. The RRS team<br />
travelled daily an hour north from<br />
Fairbanks to the <strong>Rang</strong>e over snowpacked<br />
roads and across mountain<br />
ranges to prepare for the launch by<br />
continuously testing and monitoring<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e systems while awaiting acceptable<br />
science conditions. If<br />
acceptable science conditions<br />
didn’t materialize, the RRS team<br />
shut down for the evening and travelled<br />
back to Fairbanks.<br />
The RRS team was deployed for<br />
eight weeks awaiting conditions<br />
meeting specific scientific criteria.<br />
In the end, both missions were<br />
successfully launched, meeting all<br />
scientific and mission objectives<br />
despite the considerable challenges<br />
presented by the environment.<br />
RRS engineers implemented a new<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e slaving system at Poker<br />
Flat to operate in parallel as part<br />
of a continuous program of modernization<br />
for these missions. This<br />
new system utilizes an network<br />
infrastructure to distribute vehicle<br />
position data to tracking radar and<br />
telemetry antennas. An X-band<br />
telemetry demonstration was also<br />
implemented in parallel for the<br />
CHARM II mission.<br />
The second stage of the CHARM II<br />
sounding rocket ignites as the first<br />
stage burns out and starts to fall back<br />
to earth during a sounding rocket mission<br />
in Poker Flat <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e.<br />
We're Working On...<br />
“The X-band telemetry system<br />
functioned impressively well<br />
for a first flight... (researchers<br />
are) enthusiastic about this<br />
new high bandwidth telemetry<br />
and will be interested in<br />
having it on future flights for<br />
which science warrants it.”<br />
— Dr. Jim LaBelle<br />
Department of Physics and Astronomy,<br />
Dartmouth College<br />
Principal Investigator, CHARM II Mission<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) continues to implement new technologies to meet the ever increasing<br />
demand for higher data rates from sub-orbital missions. In February <strong>2010</strong>, the CHARM II (Correlations<br />
of High Frequencies and Auroral Roar Measurements) payload was launched from Poker Flat <strong>Research</strong><br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e in Alaska with a demonstration X-band telemetry system on board. RRS, in partnership with <strong>NASA</strong>’s<br />
Sounding Rocket Program and <strong>NASA</strong>’s Applied Engineering Technology Directorate, developed, integrated,<br />
and tested the X-band flight hardware system and ground systems to receive a high data rate telemetry<br />
signal. This X-band link increased data rates by 10 times over current S-band link capabilities. The mission<br />
was a success and the data collected on X-band proved invaluable for future high data rate missions. The<br />
next mission that will demonstrate progression to high data rata telemetry is a Sub-Orbital Technology<br />
(SubTEC IV) flight scheduled for 2011 at Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility (WFF). An X-band upgrade to the WFF<br />
eight-meter antenna is being evaluated to support the SubTEC IV mission. This flight will increase the date<br />
rate again and utilize a new encoding scheme to improve the quality of the data.<br />
Brian Cunningham, <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong><br />
meteorological technician, releases a weather balloon<br />
before launch of the missions from Poker Flat<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e near Fairbanks Alaska.<br />
15
Ron Perry, <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> telemetry technician, records<br />
data as it’s being transmitted from a sounding rocket mission at Poker<br />
Flat <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e.<br />
Bob Ross, <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> telemetry technician, conducts<br />
patch updates to correctly configure telemetry recorders during a<br />
sounding rocket mission at Poker Flat <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e.<br />
16<br />
We're Working On...<br />
The Poker Flat <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e (PFRR) added a Mission Operations Voice Enhancement (MOVE)<br />
subsystem to benefit <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong>, the Sounding Rocket Program and the University of<br />
Alaska. <strong>NASA</strong> is providing a state-of-the-art system complete with parts, maintenance, systems spares,<br />
test, and transition equipment and a voice recorder. The <strong>Rang</strong>e is procuring 41 MOVE keysets that will<br />
interface to MOVE via Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). In order to integrate VoIP keysets, fiberoptic<br />
cabling has been extended to required buildings; and an IP network infrastructure will be deployed<br />
to accommodate operational radar, wind-weighting, and telemetry data as well as keyset connections.<br />
The MOVE switch will integrate with air-to-ground radios, campus telephones, the paging system, and<br />
public radio, to provide all existing capabilities, but with a more robust and reliable system that will benefit<br />
the University of Alaska as well as the Sounding Rocket Program.<br />
Poker Flat<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
Don Penney, <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> telecommunications<br />
supervisor, analyzes his team’s telemetry<br />
configuration just before launch operations at Poker Flat<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e.<br />
Radar and telemetry antennas are being tested at Poker Flat<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e.<br />
A 20-foot telemetry dish is tested at Poker Flat <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e near Fairbanks,<br />
Alaska.<br />
17
SubTEC III<br />
18<br />
The SubTEC III sounding rocket carried the Autonomous <strong>Flight</strong> Safety System (AFSS), two<br />
secondary payloads operated by the Federal Aviation Administration, and a combination of seven<br />
Sounding Rocket Program experiments.<br />
<strong>NASA</strong>’s AFSS experiment consisted of an Inertial Measurement Unit, a GPS antenna/receiver,<br />
redundant flight processors, battery power, ordnance simulator, and a Low-Cost Telemetry Transceiver.<br />
In the event of a mission rule violation during the flight, the AFSS would autonomously<br />
generate a <strong>Flight</strong> Termination System destruct command. The AFSS performance in flight is<br />
monitored on the ground by having the AFSS transmit telemetry of its navigation data and mission<br />
rule evaluation status from launch to apogee. The telemetry paths included a direct telemetry<br />
path to <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) ground antennas and a separate telemetry path<br />
back to Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility through the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System.<br />
The RRS program provided project management, scheduling, telemetry, timing, communications,<br />
frequency monitoring, command uplink, radar tracking, surveillance, data processing, webcasting,<br />
air traffic control, weather forecasting, optical tracking, photo/video, and post-production<br />
services. <strong>Rang</strong>e instrumentation provided critical flight performance data for the AFSS and validated<br />
system functionality when faced with pre-planned flight termination decision points.<br />
We're Working On...<br />
The backbone of <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) weather forecasting support remains the Leading<br />
Environmental and Display System (LEADS). This system provides computer model data, satellite,<br />
weather radar data, as well as forecast and observations throughout the U.S. Wallops National Weather<br />
Service (NWS) data is incorporated into LEADS and is part of the national data base. On-going upgrades<br />
to the system have kept RRS on the cutting edge of weather technology, and the latest software<br />
build that is scheduled in the next six months will be able to handle the new NWS high resolution level<br />
3 radar data that will soon be available. Other LEADS upgrades being worked prior to Taurus II include<br />
integration of portable weather station data, meteorological tower data and lightning detection data into<br />
LEADs for display on a composite, “one-stop-shopping” weather chart that will be extremely valuable in<br />
the go/no-go decision making process.<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
Many different <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> talents are required to<br />
conduct operations at the Launch <strong>Rang</strong>e. Sharone Corbin (left)<br />
provides optical support and serves as the <strong>Rang</strong>e’s archivist while<br />
Carla Cunningham (right) serves as a systems engineer responsible<br />
for designing solutions to supply the <strong>Rang</strong>e Control Center with<br />
scores of video sources. In the background, the SubTEC III vehicle<br />
soars above the Launch <strong>Rang</strong>e.<br />
19
One of the main elements that makes rocketry so fascinating is pure speed. Rockets can leave a launch<br />
pad and reach thousands of miles per hour very quickly leaving a beautiful contrail which becomes the<br />
only visible evidence that a launch just occurred. This two-stage sounding rocket known as the Mesquito<br />
put <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) personnel in a challenging position due to its excessive speed.<br />
This relatively small sounding rocket took flight December 16, 2009, and came off the rail at such a pace<br />
that RRS technicians had to reevaluate normal tracking configurations to ensure proper data collection.<br />
Mesquito’s extreme speed<br />
made photography a challenge<br />
during the December 2009<br />
launch. However, RRS optical<br />
technicians were able to capture<br />
the early morning launch.<br />
20<br />
Mesquito<br />
Radar, telemetry and optical<br />
teams analyzed their systems<br />
and made adjustments to successfully<br />
track this challenging<br />
vehicle. The Mesquito vehicle<br />
was designed to determine the<br />
feasibility of using modified military<br />
M-26 motors as launch vehicles<br />
for mesospheric research,<br />
develop sub-systems to support<br />
scientific research instrumentation,<br />
and promote the infrastructure<br />
required to support high<br />
launch rates required for temporal<br />
studies of the mesosphere.<br />
Other RRS provided services<br />
were meteorological, frequency<br />
monitoring, project management<br />
and communications support.<br />
We're Working On...<br />
This year, the Instrumentation Radar Support Program serviced<br />
C- and X-band radars managed by the <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong><br />
(RRS) program at Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility. In particular,<br />
a depot-level maintenance team performed multiple upgrades<br />
on Mobile Radar 11 which will ensure the system will be fully<br />
mission capable with minimal downtime for future launch campaigns.<br />
<strong>Research</strong> Wallops <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
Nihka Mod II <strong>Flight</strong> Test<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) personnel helped move the Sounding Rocket Program a big step<br />
forward on August 4, <strong>2010</strong>, when they supported the launch of a Black Brant X. This sub-orbital vehicle<br />
was designed to qualify the new production Nihka Mod II motor in a flight environment. In order<br />
to provide an off-axis view to mitigate plume attenuation during a critical data gathering period, one of<br />
RRS’ mobile telemetry systems was deployed to Coquina, North Carolina.<br />
Prior to deployment to Coquina, the mobile telemetry unit went through a comprehensive verification/<br />
validation procedure while RRS engineers and technicians began preparing for deployment. Upon<br />
arrival at Coquina, the unit was unpacked, reassembled, and connections were made with power and<br />
phone lines. Another comprehensive verification/validation procedure was performed following reassembly.<br />
RRS teams went the extra mile in setting up Atmospheric Science <strong>Research</strong> Facility<br />
SPANDAR and UHF antennas, normally not part of a sounding rocket support configuration, to assist<br />
other radar systems in their search for a chaff cloud created as part of one of the science experiments.<br />
The Nihka Mod II sounding rocket<br />
takes flight from the Launch <strong>Rang</strong>e.<br />
19 21
22<br />
RockOn!<br />
As part of <strong>NASA</strong>’s support of university research and education programs, the Wallops <strong>Research</strong><br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) supported the third hands-on, university level rocket flight workshop known as<br />
“RockOn!”. The mission included five RockOn! workshop experiments and RockSat-C experiments<br />
from the University of Northern Colorado, Colorado State University College of Engineering, Temple<br />
University, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Minnesota,<br />
West Virginia University, University of Puerto Rico, University of Wyoming, Virginia Tech, and<br />
College of Menominee Nation.<br />
The primary objective of the RockOn! workshop is to provide university undergraduate level students<br />
and instructors a space flight opportunity that involves minimal cost, minimal amount of time invested,<br />
and a relative low level of complexity. The RockOn! workshop is intended to be an introductory flight<br />
opportunity to provide exposure to and spark interest in space-based science missions. The longterm<br />
goal of this program is to provide a low-cost, subsidized, self-sustaining, annual training program<br />
for the university community. The first-time participants fly the simpler kit experiments known as the<br />
RockSat-W experiments; as they gain more experience, they progress toward developing their own<br />
unique experiments know as the RockSat-C class experiments.<br />
This Terrier MK12-Improved Orion sounding rocket is fixed to Pad 2’s<br />
MRL launcher during horizontal checks at the Launch <strong>Rang</strong>e.<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
RRS supplied <strong>Rang</strong>e Control Center support, Weather Office forecasting, tracking radars, high-speed<br />
cameras, <strong>Rang</strong>e timing, and surveillance to ensure a safe launch, and payload recovery coordination.<br />
The RRS team used this launch opportunity to test various camera systems including a new camerabased<br />
dynamic range extension to correct normally overexposed areas of the image caused by the rocket<br />
booster flame at lift-off, a new tracking camera being tested in an engineering test mode, and cinema<br />
cameras used for a sounding rocket launch for the first time.<br />
RRS instrumentation supplied the precise location of the splash point of the payload and the RRS Recovery<br />
Director vectored the recovery vessel to the payload’s location.<br />
We're Working On...<br />
As Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility continues to grow in stature as one of the nation’s leading<br />
launch ranges, the RRS program executes an ongoing evaluation of all areas of <strong>Rang</strong>e<br />
services to determine where upgrades may be required to maintain its current state-ofthe-art<br />
capabilities. For example, with the upcoming Taurus II missions — and future<br />
missions destined to reach the Moon’s surface — imaging, distribution and storage of<br />
video data is becoming even more critical to overall mission success. Currently, the<br />
capability of the <strong>Rang</strong>e to collect, distribute, record and archive video data is under<br />
evaluation with several key areas already identified for upgrade.<br />
23
24<br />
Terrier MK70-<br />
Improved Malemute<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) personnel played a key role in ushering in a new era in fast, inexpensive<br />
access to space for small payloads when on March 27, <strong>2010</strong>, two small spacecraft known<br />
as CUBESATs were launched aboard a Terrier MK70-Improved Malemute sounding rocket. The<br />
CUBESATs were designed and built by university students in Kentucky and California and “hitched<br />
a ride” on a <strong>NASA</strong> flight test of a new class of sub-orbital sounding rocket. In the short float time<br />
in space, the CUBESATs gathered important data that will be applied to future small earth-orbiting<br />
space vehicles.<br />
At mid-morning on launch day, the <strong>NASA</strong> Terrier MK70-Improved Malemute sounding rocket lifted<br />
off from the Launch <strong>Rang</strong>e leaving a fiery trail in the clear skies. Right on schedule, the two CUBE-<br />
SATs were ejected during the sub-orbital flight at approximately 77 miles altitude, 72 seconds into<br />
the flight. James Lumpp, Director of <strong>Space</strong> Systems Laboratory at the University of Kentucky and<br />
faculty advisor for the project, said, “This is the first time CUBESATs were ejected in space on a suborbital<br />
trajectory. This capability of leveraging the CUBESAT satellite standard on a <strong>NASA</strong> sounding<br />
rocket could open a whole new chapter in fast, inexpensive access to space for small payloads.”<br />
RRS professionals staffed the tracking radar, telemetry and optical instrumentation systems and<br />
provided meteorological services, frequency monitoring, communications support, and project<br />
management services critical to successful mission completion. The <strong>NASA</strong> Terrier MK70-Improved<br />
Malemute mission is just one more example of the successful partnership between Wallops <strong>Flight</strong><br />
Facility and university students and professors.<br />
We're Working On...<br />
Surveillance is an essential safety element of mission operations at the Launch<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e. <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) personnel are currently working with <strong>NASA</strong><br />
engineers in an effort to provide a new surveillance capability, called the Consolidated<br />
Sea and Air Surveillance (CSAS) System, located in the <strong>Rang</strong>e Control Center.<br />
This new, state-of-the-art processing and display system is being built upon a<br />
software product called SureTrak, which was originally developed by the U.S. Navy<br />
at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station for air and sea surveillance. RRS and <strong>NASA</strong><br />
are collaborating with the Navy to make enhancements and modifications that will<br />
enable SureTrak to interface with <strong>Rang</strong>e assets and provide <strong>Rang</strong>e Safety officers<br />
a pre-launch risk assessment capability. The new system will substantially improve<br />
the surveillance capability at the Launch <strong>Rang</strong>e.<br />
The Terrier MK70-Improved Malemute sounding<br />
rocket takes flight from Pad 1 at the Launch <strong>Rang</strong>e.<br />
“This is the first time<br />
CUBESATs were ejected in<br />
space on a sub-orbital trajectory.<br />
This capability of leveraging the<br />
CUBESAT satellite standard on<br />
a <strong>NASA</strong> sounding rocket could<br />
open a whole new chapter in<br />
fast, inexpensive access to<br />
space for small payloads.”<br />
<strong>Research</strong> Wallops <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
— James Lumpp<br />
Director of <strong>Space</strong> Systems Laboratory<br />
University of Kentucky<br />
25
<strong>NASA</strong> Exploration Systems Mission Directorate<br />
26<br />
Ares 1-X<br />
<strong>NASA</strong>’s Ares 1-X was launched from Kennedy <strong>Space</strong><br />
Center (KSC) in Florida on October 28, 2009, in anticipation<br />
of bringing the agency one step closer to its<br />
future exploration goals and journeys to destinations<br />
beyond low earth orbit. <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong><br />
(RRS) personnel were instrumental to pre-launch support<br />
testing and to flight operations during the launch.<br />
RRS provided project engineering support to design,<br />
integrate, and install telemetry ground systems at the<br />
Eastern <strong>Rang</strong>e Central Telemetry Facility (TEL-4) and<br />
the Jonathan Dickinson Missile Tracking Annex necessary<br />
to receive and record telemetry links providing<br />
the mission control team with real time data from more<br />
than 700 sensors on the rocket as well as data for post<br />
mission flight analysis. Prior to the launch, RRS personnel<br />
supported radio frequency compatibility testing<br />
of the Ares 1-X avionics section at the United Launch Alliance System Integration Laboratory<br />
(ULA SIL) in Denver, Colorado, and the RF final compatibility testing in the Vehicle Assembly<br />
Building at KSC. RRS Engineering/Operations also provided final close out open loop RF data<br />
flow testing at TEL-4 validating the<br />
fully integrated system was “go”<br />
for launch.<br />
The 327-foot tall Ares 1-X test<br />
vehicle produced 2.6 million<br />
pounds of thrust to accelerate the<br />
rocket to Mach 4.76, just below<br />
hypersonic speed. The Ares<br />
1-X capped its easterly flight at<br />
a sub-orbital altitude of 150,000<br />
feet after the separation of its first<br />
stage, a four-segment solid rocket<br />
booster. The test flight lasted<br />
about six minutes from its launch<br />
from the newly-modified Launch<br />
Complex 39B at KSC until splash<br />
down of the rocket’s booster stage<br />
nearly 150 miles down range.<br />
Thanks to the unequalled expertise<br />
and total dedication to the<br />
mission of the entire RRS Team,<br />
reception and processing of vehicle<br />
telemetry links and delivery<br />
of real-time telemetry data to<br />
KSC Launch Control and <strong>Rang</strong>e<br />
Safety was 100 percent successful.<br />
Following the test launch,<br />
RRS personnel delivered data for<br />
post mission analysis to <strong>NASA</strong><br />
supporting centers and to the<br />
ULA vehicle support team.<br />
The Ares 1-X test flight provided<br />
<strong>NASA</strong> with important data that<br />
will be used to improve the design<br />
and safety of the next generation<br />
of American spaceflight<br />
vehicles which could again take<br />
humans beyond low earth orbit.<br />
We're Working On...<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
Matt Schneider and Ron Taylor, <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) telemetry engineers,<br />
configure the telemetry ground station in preparation of the Ares 1-X launch<br />
at the Kennedy <strong>Space</strong> Center in Florida. Lower Left: Ron Taylor, RRS telemetry<br />
engineer, stands near the Ares 1-X rocket as it sits on the launch pad. Center:<br />
The Ares 1-X rocket flies through the atmosphere moments after liftoff. Background:<br />
The Ares 1-X rocket is in position for liftoff from Kennedy <strong>Space</strong> Center.<br />
To ensure secure communications of flight termination signals (FTS) to a launch vehicle to prevent<br />
unintended termination and to comply with <strong>NASA</strong> information technology security policies,<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) engineers are implementing a new tri-mode flight termination<br />
ground system. Tri-mode includes standard IRIG, secure command and enhanced FTS<br />
modulation schemes. This effort implements new hardware and software in the <strong>Rang</strong>e Control<br />
Center Transmitter Site on Wallops Mainland and in Mobile Command Systems. Once operational,<br />
RRS personnel will be capable of supporting any of the FTS modes currently employed<br />
on launch vehicles and will comply with <strong>NASA</strong> IT requirements. To date, systems have been<br />
procured that will provide the dual-redundant link between the RCC and the transmitter site.<br />
These systems will be delivered, installed, and tested in the coming year.<br />
27
<strong>NASA</strong> Aeronautics <strong>Research</strong> Mission Directorate<br />
28<br />
<strong>NASA</strong> UAV<br />
Technology Project<br />
The <strong>NASA</strong> Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Technology Project is one of the most exciting missions<br />
supported by <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) personnel. The UAV project conducted three test<br />
flights and one demonstration during Fiscal Year <strong>2010</strong>. The objective of this project is to develop a<br />
weather observation platform utilizing the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) for the<br />
communications link.<br />
The mission on August 29, <strong>2010</strong>, was particularly challenging as supporting personnel were in a<br />
transition period from the Near Earth Networks <strong>Services</strong> contract to the new <strong>Rang</strong>e Operations<br />
Contract. RRS personnel provided project management, frequency monitoring, air traffic control,<br />
weather forecasting, and project camera surveillance to ensure that all objectives of the mission were<br />
successfully met. Resource coordination with <strong>NASA</strong> project management, RRS engineering personnel,<br />
RRS operations personnel, and others was fast paced and came off without a hitch.<br />
Throughout the year, RRS engineers and technicians, in conjunction with the <strong>NASA</strong> UAV Technology<br />
Project designed, tested and demonstrated a common payload interface package for use on a smallto-medium<br />
class UAV in the following areas:<br />
• <strong>Flight</strong> computer with networking<br />
• Over-The-Horizon (OTH) communications (using TDRSS at nominal throughput)<br />
• Common, standard science interfaces to support a variety of science instruments<br />
• Common, standard aircraft interfaces to support a variety of UAVs (use of a pod)<br />
As FY <strong>2010</strong> came to an end, RRS was transitioning into the second phase of the initiative that will<br />
continue to enhance and advance UAS technical capabilities and fold in newly designed science<br />
instrumentation to support and advance core science capabilities.<br />
We're Working On...<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
The <strong>NASA</strong> Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technology Project conducts flight operations from the Launch <strong>Rang</strong>e’s 1,500-foot<br />
UAV runway on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Lower Left: The <strong>NASA</strong> unmanned aerial vehicle taxis just before takeoff.<br />
In January <strong>2010</strong>, AirTEC, Inc., in partnership with <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) successfully designed,<br />
integrated, tested and operationally deployed a second radar surveillance aircraft. Since 1998, AirTEC, Inc.,<br />
has provided range support for WFF in the form of airborne radar surveillance, visual range surveillance and<br />
payload recovery, and airborne telemetry services. This <strong>NASA</strong>/AirTEC partnership continues to successfully<br />
deploy a reliable and effective platform utilizing <strong>NASA</strong>’s APS-143 b(v)3 surveillance radar with AirTEC’s proprietary<br />
satellite downlink system. This second surveillance platform utilizes a similar sensor package including<br />
an X-band marine surveillance radar integrated with an Automatic Identification System, a satellite data<br />
link, and the AirTEC mission computer and mapping system. The confluence of these two aircraft systems<br />
and a single ground station operator has allowed Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility to conduct missions requiring the<br />
clearance and monitoring of marine traffic over areas covering the Atlantic Ocean and coastal areas. This<br />
dual aircraft capability was first successfully deployed this year on March 27, <strong>2010</strong>, to support the launch of<br />
the Terrier MK70-Improved Malemute rocket supporting the CUBESAT spacecraft project.<br />
29
<strong>NASA</strong> <strong>Space</strong> Operations Mission Directorate<br />
30<br />
<strong>Space</strong> Shuttle Support<br />
During Fiscal Year <strong>2010</strong>, <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong><br />
(RRS) personnel supported four <strong>Space</strong><br />
Shuttle missions to help complete the assembly<br />
of the International <strong>Space</strong> Station (ISS). Overall,<br />
nearly 500 passes were tracked with valuable data<br />
transmitted to the Eastern <strong>Rang</strong>e controllers and<br />
Johnson <strong>Space</strong> Center (JSC) navigators as part of<br />
pre-launch, launch and on-orbit mission activities.<br />
The <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e’s two main radars shared<br />
the workload of simultaneously tracking the Orbiter<br />
and the ISS during the rendezvous and separation<br />
phases of the mission. Without this tracking, the<br />
mission control team would not have had an independent<br />
tracking source during those final critical<br />
minutes to make performance assessments and, if<br />
necessary, an abort determination. Prior to each<br />
launch, <strong>Rang</strong>e tracking radars, telemetry, and command<br />
systems personnel worked with the Eastern<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e controllers, <strong>Goddard</strong> <strong>Space</strong> <strong>Flight</strong> Center<br />
(GSFC) network managers and JSC navigators<br />
to ensure RRS system readiness. Voice circuits<br />
were thoroughly tested with GSFC and JSC prior<br />
to launch to ensure critical backup communications<br />
with the Orbiter in the event of an emergency.<br />
The <strong>Space</strong> Shuttle Discovery take flight during<br />
the early morning hours of April 5, <strong>2010</strong>,<br />
from Kennedy <strong>Space</strong> Center in Florida.<br />
Orbiter: Atlantis<br />
Mission: STS-129<br />
Launch: November 16, 2009<br />
Landing: November 27, 2009<br />
Site: Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC<br />
Orbiter: Endeavour<br />
Mission: STS-130<br />
Launch: February 8, <strong>2010</strong><br />
Landing: February 21, <strong>2010</strong><br />
Site: Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC<br />
Orbiter: Discovery<br />
Mission: STS-131<br />
Launch: April 5, <strong>2010</strong><br />
Landing: April 20, <strong>2010</strong><br />
Site: Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC<br />
Orbiter: Atlantis<br />
Mission: STS-132<br />
Launch: May 14, <strong>2010</strong><br />
Landing: May 26, <strong>2010</strong><br />
Site: Shuttle Landing Facility, KSC<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
James Parks, right, <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> communications<br />
technician, stands with his wife Debbie Parks and the <strong>NASA</strong><br />
Administrator Charles Bolden shortly after receiving the <strong>Space</strong><br />
<strong>Flight</strong> Awareness Award.<br />
The <strong>Space</strong> <strong>Flight</strong> Awareness Award (SFAA) was presented to James<br />
Parks and Ken Griffin. The <strong>Space</strong> <strong>Flight</strong> Awareness Award Program<br />
recognizes the outstanding job performance of employees, who, by<br />
substantial contributions, have personally displayed strong dedication<br />
to quality work and flight safety.<br />
Mr. Parks is a <strong>NASA</strong> Communications (NASCOM) senior technician<br />
for the <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) program. In this role, he provides<br />
critical onsite data connectivity for all missions supported by the<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e. He has been a key player for all <strong>Space</strong> Shuttle launch operations<br />
including <strong>Space</strong> Shuttle pre-launch, launch, on-orbit, and return<br />
to earth flight segments. James has truly earned his SFAA while<br />
performing as a senior NASCOM technician for more than 20 years.<br />
Mr. Griffin, Contract Program Manager for the <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong><br />
Program, received the SFAA for leadership in the area of telemetry,<br />
tracking and command support at various <strong>NASA</strong> tracking stations<br />
throughout the world. Mr. Griffin has performed an active role on<br />
nearly every <strong>NASA</strong> astronaut mission including the final Apollo flights<br />
and every <strong>Space</strong> Shuttle mission, and has tracked the ISS and Mir as<br />
part of docking evolutions. When not occupied with manned missions,<br />
Mr. Griffin has been involved in numerous robotic flight missions and<br />
has traveled the globe to further the agency’s and country’s space<br />
initiatives. Ken received his SFAA In recognition of 40 years of exceptional<br />
technical and management service to numerous <strong>NASA</strong> human<br />
and robotic space flight missions.<br />
31
Civil Agencies<br />
32<br />
Water Ingestion Study<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) conducts literally hundreds of operations each year; however,<br />
few operations present the unique challenges of taxiing a multi-ton aircraft through thousands of<br />
gallons of water to analyze the effects of water ingestion into the aircraft’s engines. Data captured<br />
using RRS’ unique capabilities provided Gulfstream Corporation critically important information<br />
necessary to evaluate the aircraft’s ability to safely land and take off in wet runway conditions.<br />
Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility is one of only a few places capable of conducting such experiments.<br />
In early October <strong>2010</strong>, Gulfstream chose the <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e to bring a new Gulfstream G650<br />
to conduct water ingestion testing. This comprehensive test scenario required many weeks of<br />
developing challenging optical configurations to accurately capture a large volume of data, conducting<br />
extensive safety analyses, and test planning and preparation.<br />
The Optical Systems Group outfitted the airfield with an Intermediate Optical Focal Length<br />
Tracker configured with mid-range lenses and high definition video cameras. In addition, remote<br />
unmanned surveillance cameras were strategically placed around the airfield to give the<br />
customer a wide variety of angles to analyze their aircraft.<br />
After the Wallops Airfield Manager and the Wallops Fire Department fabricated a 200-foot long<br />
water trough that held just less than an inch of water, the airfield was ready for action. As engine<br />
start time approached, weather data provided by the RRS Weather Office showed that poor conditions<br />
were rapidly moving into the area. <strong>Rang</strong>e personnel and Gulfstream engineers and technicians<br />
worked together to safely conduct 15 runs within a 12-hour period, a feat never before<br />
accomplished.<br />
The Gulfstream water ingestion tests are a sterling example of a highly efficient integration of<br />
RRS capabilities with the needs of the civil community.<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
The Gulfstream G650 aircraft is positioned at the entrance of the water trough in preparation for water ingestion testing at the<br />
Launch <strong>Rang</strong>e’s fully functional airport. Lower Left: The Gulfstream G650 aircraft taxis through the water trough so engineers<br />
can collect data to determine how the aircraft’s engines perform. Lower Right: Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility Firemen Jeff<br />
Bell, Hank Bodley, and Willie Kirkpatrick (wearing blue shirts) fill the water trough to an acceptable level. The firemen not only<br />
maintained the trough during operations but were instrumental in the trough’s construction.<br />
33
Outreach and Education<br />
34<br />
In FY <strong>2010</strong>, <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> Again Set the Standard<br />
for Supporting <strong>NASA</strong>’s Education Programs<br />
In Fiscal Year <strong>2010</strong>, <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) hosted many students<br />
from high schools and universities supporting <strong>NASA</strong>’s Education Programs,<br />
and the number increases every year.<br />
RRS continued inspiring and motivating students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and<br />
mathematics through internships in a variety of careers to help young adults gain practical work experience.<br />
The underlying map on this and the following page displays schools represented in the Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility<br />
Internship Program. Our headline programs include:<br />
Cooperative (Co-Op) Education Program<br />
College students receive valuable work experience through positions with Wallops-based organizations,<br />
including RRS, related to their major field of study. This experience helps create and sustain the scientific and<br />
engineering workforce of the future. The Co-Op Program is the principal source of new permanent employees<br />
at Wallops.<br />
STEP UP<br />
RRS supports the partnership between <strong>NASA</strong>; Worcester County, Maryland; and the Lower Shore Workforce<br />
Alliance in conducting the Science, Technology, Engineering Pipeline for Underserved Populations (STEP<br />
UP) internship program targeted for students of Worcester County, Maryland, high schools; WorWic Community<br />
College; Salisbury University; and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Students participate in an<br />
8-week summer internship at the <strong>NASA</strong> Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility or the Maryland Institute for <strong>Space</strong> Technology.<br />
RRS Support Extends To Many Other Programs:<br />
• National <strong>Space</strong> Club Scholars Program<br />
• Undergraduate Student <strong>Research</strong> Program<br />
• Graduate <strong>Research</strong> Studies<br />
• Wallops Contractors Student Job Opportunities<br />
RRS has hired numerous graduating students who were former<br />
participants in education programs.<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
35
36<br />
<strong>Space</strong>X<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) personnel continue<br />
to be at the cutting edge of addressing tomorrow’s<br />
space transportation needs as they joined forces with<br />
<strong>NASA</strong>’s Johnson <strong>Space</strong> Center to support <strong>Space</strong>X’s<br />
Commercial Orbital Transportation <strong>Services</strong> (COTS)<br />
Demonstration <strong>Flight</strong> 1, <strong>Space</strong>X’s first launch under<br />
<strong>NASA</strong>’s COTS Program. The two-stage Falcon 9<br />
expendable launch vehicle took flight from Cape Canaveral,<br />
Florida, Dec. 8, <strong>2010</strong>, to deploy the Dragon<br />
spacecraft. The Dragon’s role on future launches will<br />
be to resupply the International <strong>Space</strong> Station (ISS) <strong>Space</strong>X conducted comprehensive tests of the Dragon<br />
with supplies and eventually carry crew members to spacecraft as it orbited the earth.<br />
the ISS. <strong>NASA</strong> is partnering with commercial companies<br />
like <strong>Space</strong>X in a symbiotic and highly productive<br />
relationship to develop and demonstrate space transportation capabilities.<br />
The Dragon spacecraft separated from the second stage and demonstrated operational communications,<br />
navigation, maneuvering, and reentry capabilities. For this demonstration flight, Dragon orbited<br />
the Earth as <strong>Space</strong>X tested all of its systems and subsequently initiated thruster firing to begin reentry,<br />
returning the Dragon capsule to Earth for a Pacific Ocean splashdown off the coast of California.<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> provided command uplink, telemetry, and radar support throughout the<br />
mission. Powerful RRS antennas provided tracking, receiving, and processing of telemetry data and<br />
video from Dragon during the launch and subsequent orbit as it passed over the Launch <strong>Rang</strong>e. RRS<br />
played a pivotal role in mission success by providing back-up S-band Command Uplink support for the<br />
Dragon capsule to <strong>Space</strong>X and radar tracking during the launch and ascent phase and the first orbit to<br />
the U.S. Air Force’s Eastern <strong>Rang</strong>e.<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> personnel provided command<br />
uplink, telemetry, and radar support throughout the mission<br />
for this Falcon 9 expendable launch vehicle.<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
37
38<br />
<strong>2010</strong> brought a new challenge in the form of an unusually heavy snowfall, sometimes requiring <strong>Research</strong><br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) personnel to spend the night “on console” to make sure not a single mission<br />
went unsupported.<br />
Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility (WFF) and its surrounding areas typically receive an average of 8.4 inches of<br />
snow from December through March. However, this past year was extremely atypical as the RRS<br />
Weather Office recorded over 27.9 inches of total snowfall, more than 19 inches more than the average<br />
amount. At times, driving conditions were seemingly as awful as those experienced in the Arctic Circle.<br />
More than once, road conditions deteriorated to the point where they were closed by local authorities<br />
requiring RRS personnel to remain on the facility, leading to long, exhausting days. RRS personnel were<br />
up to the challenge, and earned many accolades for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to mission<br />
success.<br />
Many stories of “above and beyond” dedication to mission accomplishment came out of one of the most<br />
challenging winter seasons on record. One such story evolved during the second of three major storms<br />
in February <strong>2010</strong> which coincided with the <strong>Space</strong> Transportation System (STS) 130 Shuttle mission.<br />
Wallops <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
Blizzard conditions made coming to work for RRS personnel treacherous as WFF was closed and the<br />
Eastern Shore was in a state of emergency causing local officials to restrict travel. Roads were all but<br />
impassable due to high snow drifts and more than 20 inches of snow in many locations. RRS personnel<br />
remained “on console” to ensure the mission was fully supported.<br />
Another example occurred when missile precision radar technicians for RRS’s most powerful tracking<br />
radar known locally as Radar 5, despite extreme difficulty getting through the snow drifts, successfully<br />
fought the forces of nature to provide critical tracking during <strong>Space</strong> Shuttle and International <strong>Space</strong> Station<br />
rendezvous and separation. At one point, ice and snow that had built up on the radar dish needed<br />
clearing to prevent possible tracking anomalies and a second RRS radar crew was called in. After successfully<br />
making it to the operating location with the assistance of WFF Security and their four wheel<br />
drive vehicles, the crew cleaned the dish enough so full operation could continue until the sun came up<br />
and melted the remaining ice.<br />
It is particularly noteworthy that during our bout of uniquely harsh weather, the Meteorological Operations<br />
team did not miss a scheduled balloon release critical to gathering meteorological data. STS 119<br />
Discovery Astronaut Richard Arnold visited the Launch <strong>Rang</strong>e to personally thank them for their hard<br />
work and dedication to further space exploration during these fierce conditions.<br />
Two atmospheric research radars, SPANDAR and<br />
UHF, are stowed during poor weather conditions at<br />
Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility.<br />
39
Lee Wingfield, <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> optical technician, assists in<br />
the configuration of an intermediate focal length optical tracker during<br />
operations on the airfield. Background: <strong>Rang</strong>e Instrumentation Radar<br />
778C is a mobile radar unit often deployed to Coquina North Carolina to<br />
support downrange tracking requirements.<br />
40<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e Commander’s Council<br />
The <strong>Rang</strong>e Commander’s Council (RCC) is a community of practice among <strong>Rang</strong>e Commanders<br />
that provides a framework wherein common needs are identified and common solutions are sought.<br />
In Fiscal Year <strong>2010</strong>, <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) officially participated in the RCC, marking its<br />
second year as a formal member. Mr. Jay Pittman, Chief of the <strong>Rang</strong>e and Mission Management<br />
Office and Commander of Wallops Launch <strong>Rang</strong>e, served as <strong>NASA</strong>’s technical representative to the<br />
council and was later named <strong>NASA</strong>’s executive committee member. Replacing Mr. Pittman as the<br />
<strong>NASA</strong> technical representative is Mr. Barton Bull, the <strong>Rang</strong>e Chief Engineer. Notable from the past<br />
year’s activities are the selection of Mr. Mike Patterson as the Chair of the RCC <strong>Rang</strong>e Safety Group<br />
and an initiative, led by Mr. Bull, to canvas all <strong>NASA</strong> Centers in order to increase Agency participation<br />
in the working groups. Wallops will host the summer 2011 <strong>Rang</strong>e Commanders Conference.<br />
This will represent the first gathering of the RCC at <strong>NASA</strong>’s Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility.<br />
The RCC is dedicated to serving the technical and operational needs of U.S. test, training and operational<br />
ranges by ensuring that technical standards are established and disseminated, joint procurement<br />
opportunities are explored, technical and equipment exchanges are facilitated, advanced<br />
concepts and technical innovations are assessed and potential applications are identified.<br />
The RCC, founded in 1951, was organized to preserve and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness<br />
of member ranges, thereby increasing their research capabilities, operational test and evaluation<br />
expertise and training and readiness resources. The mission of the RCC is to:<br />
• Identify and resolve common problems<br />
• Discuss common range matters in an organized forum<br />
• Exchange information to minimize duplication<br />
• Conduct joint investigations pertaining to research, design, development, procurement<br />
and testing<br />
• Coordinate major or special procurement actions to realize procurement efficiencies<br />
where possible<br />
• Develop operational test procedures and standards for present and future range use<br />
• Encourage the interchange of excess technical systems and equipment<br />
41
Looking Ahead to FY 2011 and Beyond<br />
42<br />
Taurus II<br />
We're Working On...<br />
The legacy voice conferencing system, consisting of a core switch with 40 keysets in<br />
the RCC (installed 1993), and 12 Transistor Operated Phone System (TOPS) intercoms<br />
(installed 1960), is being replaced with an all-new, state-of-the art conferencing system.<br />
MOVE provides a more reliable system with improved voice conferencing features, and<br />
replaces the current 12-channel analog system with a fully digital system that supports<br />
240 channels. The MOVE system has been integrated with all circuits required for<br />
launch support, enabling support of the Sub-TEC III launch in September <strong>2010</strong> using<br />
MOVE keysets in the <strong>Rang</strong>e Control Center. Approximately one third of the 368 MOVE<br />
keysets have been installed to date, and the system will be fully integrated prior to the<br />
Track-Ex launch in January 2011. The MOVE system is scaled for 50% growth to accommodate<br />
significant expansion for upcoming projects.<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
The current construction of a launch complex capable of sending medium-class expendable launch<br />
vehicles (ELVs) into space illuminates the Launch <strong>Rang</strong>e’s growth and aggressive move into the<br />
future as a national resource for enabling low-cost access to space to further enable science and<br />
technology research. Since the <strong>Rang</strong>e’s inception in 1945, and more than 16,000 launches and six<br />
decades later, the <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) team is poised to support operations to launch its<br />
largest vehicle ever – a 130-foot tall, 13-foot diameter Taurus II ELV. This Orbital Sciences Corporation<br />
rocket is part of <strong>NASA</strong>’s Commercial Orbital Transportation <strong>Services</strong> (COTS) contract to resupply<br />
the International <strong>Space</strong> Station and is estimated to launch in early 2012.<br />
The Taurus II is designed to provide versatile, flexible, and cost-effective access to space for mediumclass<br />
payloads.<br />
In preparation for the 2012 launch, the RRS Team needed to upgrade payload processing, fueling,<br />
and integration facilities as well as build a new launch complex. Wallops broke ground on <strong>NASA</strong>’s<br />
Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF) December 19, 2009. At the time of publication, the HIF’s main<br />
structure is complete and will be fully functional in January 2011. In partnership with the Mid-Atlantic<br />
Regional <strong>Space</strong>port, shovels started moving dirt to mark the beginning of the new launch complex,<br />
Pad 0-A, March 1, <strong>2010</strong>, which is scheduled to be completed by spring 2011.<br />
Normally, medium-class vehicles, such as the U.S. Air Force’s Minotaur I, are configured in separate<br />
stages and each stacked individually on the launch pad with a large crane slowly moving each stage<br />
into position. The Taurus II vehicle and payload will be completely integrated in the HIF and subsequently<br />
transported to Pad 0-A and erected to launch position as an integrated launch system.<br />
RRS has initiated several instrumentation upgrades that will enable mission success. Upgrades include<br />
the video networks, downrange tracking locations, <strong>Rang</strong>e communications, and numerous other<br />
upgrades. These upgrades and newly constructed infrastructure will allow RRS to continue living by<br />
its moniker “We’ll Get You There.”<br />
Pad 0-A undergoes construction on Wallops Island. The site<br />
consists of liquid fueling tanks, a 300-foot water tower and the<br />
launch pad for the new Taurus II medium-class launch vehicle.<br />
43
The Horizontal Integration Facility will be Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility’s<br />
premier launch vehicle processing facility capable of processing two<br />
Taurus II first stage core’s at the same time. The building measures<br />
98 feet wide and 248 feet long and will be used to integrate and encapsulate<br />
the Cygnus <strong>Space</strong>craft to Taurus II.<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
44 45
Poker Flat 2011<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) personnel will again be busy in Fiscal Year 2011 supporting <strong>NASA</strong>’s<br />
Sounding Rocket Program with two launches scheduled from Poker Flat <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e (PFRR)<br />
outside Fairbanks, Alaska. In fact, the preparation started when RRS crews performed a maintenance<br />
trip in September <strong>2010</strong> to ensure that range instrumentation systems are operating nominally<br />
and are ready to swing into action.<br />
The science missions to be carried into space include:<br />
Polar Night Nitric Oxide to measure the concentration of nitric oxide in the mesosphere and lower<br />
thermosphere in the nighttime polar region.<br />
Far-ultraviolet Imaging Rocket Experiment to help determine the number of hot, young O stars in the<br />
Andromeda Galaxy. This type of star has the highest temperatures, the most luminosity, and the most<br />
mass and shortest life.<br />
RRS personnel will staff two PFRR telemetry antennas that will provide telemetry tracking and data<br />
reception, recording, processing and displays throughout the launch and will use a mobile command<br />
system for the Far-ultraviolet Imaging Rocket Experiment to align sensors with the proper stars. RRS<br />
personnel will also operate surveillance and precision tracking radar systems to provide tracking data<br />
on the sounding rockets during flight, collect wind and weather measurements during the pre-launch<br />
preparations and provide timing and voice communications systems to ensure that telemetry and<br />
radar assets are communicating properly.<br />
<strong>Research</strong> Wallops <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e FY <strong>2010</strong> Annual Report<br />
ORS-1 Satellite Mission<br />
In early 2011, the <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) program will meet another exciting challenge<br />
by supporting Department of Defense’s Operationally Responsive <strong>Space</strong> (ORS) office at Kirtland<br />
Air Force Base, New Mexico, via participation in its fourth Minotaur I orbital spacecraft launch at<br />
Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility (WFF) under the auspices of the USAF <strong>Space</strong> and Missile Systems Center’s<br />
<strong>Space</strong> and Development Test Wing. The mission, designated ORS-I, will demonstrate the militarily<br />
important capability to provide real-time data collected from space to combatant commanders with<br />
minimal preparation time. Such a time sensitive mission requires rapid design, construction, integration<br />
and test of a launch-ready space vehicle to conduct launch operations to support an urgent<br />
operational need.<br />
Minotaur I, the launch vehicle to the ORS-I mission, is a four-stage rocket developed for the U.S. Air<br />
Force by Orbital Sciences Corporation. It consists of two government supplied surplus stages plus<br />
two commercial stages. RRS personnel will provide tracking and telemetry data collection from lift<br />
off to mission completion and will coordinate the use of area airspace for the ascent to orbit. RRS<br />
support for this mission will also include ground instrumentation at WFF plus two downrange sites<br />
and the coordination of flight vehicle and payload operations during the countdown, launch and orbit<br />
insertion.<br />
RRS support to the Air Force <strong>Space</strong> and Missile Systems Center for this and the prior three Minotaur<br />
I launches from WFF is an important step in preparing to support future orbital launches such<br />
as the upcoming Taurus II/COTS resupply missions to the International <strong>Space</strong> Station and the Minotaur<br />
IV Lunar Atmospheric and Dust Experiment Explorer (LADEE) in 2013.<br />
Telemetry antenna systems sit on top of a ridge at Poker Flat<br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e near Fairbanks Alaska. These systems are<br />
used to transmit science data during sounding rocket missions.<br />
46 45 47
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong><br />
<strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong><br />
…cornerstone of excellence for services<br />
critical to the success of <strong>Rang</strong>e operations<br />
The <strong>Research</strong> <strong>Rang</strong>e <strong>Services</strong> (RRS) Program is critical to providing<br />
tracking, telemetry, meteorological, optical and command<br />
and control services for Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility, Poker Flat <strong>Research</strong><br />
<strong>Rang</strong>e, and remote locations around the world. The RRS<br />
Program’s dedicated, experienced, and highly skilled engineers<br />
and technicians assure error free real-time display and capture<br />
of mission-specific flight, payload and science data for a myriad<br />
of flight vehicles including orbital and suborbital rockets, aircraft,<br />
satellites, the <strong>Space</strong> Shuttle, balloons, and Unmanned Aircraft<br />
System (UAS) vehicles.
National Aeronautics and <strong>Space</strong> Administration<br />
<strong>Goddard</strong> <strong>Space</strong> <strong>Flight</strong> Facility<br />
Wallops <strong>Flight</strong> Facility<br />
34200 Fulton Street<br />
Wallops Island, VA 23337<br />
http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code840/<br />
www.nasa.gov